College teams up with Mariners to deliver academy

Sunderland College has teamed up with South Shields FC by delivering a new youth academy offering Premier League quality education.

The college will offer first-class tuition – including A-levels, Btec Sport and HND Sport – to complement the first-class coaching provided by Improtech Soccer Elite to 16-19-year-olds at the club.

John Rushworth, faculty director for sport, health and well-being at Sunderland College, says the academy programme will replicate that experienced by scholars atprofessionalfootballclubs.

Recruitment has already begun for the new academy, and anyone interested can now get in touch with the club or the college.

Curriculums for qualifications will be delivered both at South Shields FC and at Sunderland College, with academy players able to use multi-million pound, specifically- designed sports equipment and facilities.

The courses will all be delivered by Sunderland College staff, who have a proven track record of excellent Alevel and vocational outcomes.

Improtech is the coaching company, run by former Sunderland defender and Shields assistant manager Martin Scott and business partner Simon Robson – father of SAFC player Ethan – which currently runs elite football training for promising youngsters in Kepier School, Houghton, and Sunderland College.

Improtech pioneers elite football coaching in education and now has a steady stream of young players attached to the academies of the big three North East clubs, as well as Hartlepool United.